A Fire Sign's Idea of Hell (+ the New Zara Home Collection)
Mars in Cancer
Hi Friends,
How are you feeling post-full moon? As I mentioned in my article last week, it was inevitable that this full moon would be a heavy one, filled with unpredictability, shocking events, and conflict. If you didn’t experience these effects so obviously (perhaps you aren’t an Aries, Libra, Cancer, or Capricorn), you might have noticed a more subtle shift in your mindset or values. This could manifest as overcoming negative thinking, making a solid plan to improve your diet and health, ending situationships that no longer serve you, or standing up for yourself and creating boundaries. Essentially, this recent full moon = standing on business.
As promised, I took to my Instagram to answer some of your questions about this full moon and what it could look like for you personally, based on your sign. I really appreciate the feedback and am glad my predictions resonated!
In today’s article, I want to highlight that we still have Mars in Cancer and how it continues to affect us all—especially women. If you’ve found yourself wondering, ‘Why am I still feeling moody/tense/defensive even after the eclipses and full moon?’ then you’re feeling the influence of Mars in Cancer. Cancer is a water sign ruled by the Moon, associated with emotions, home, and security. The Moon changes sign every 2.5 days so Cancers will always feel like they’re going through an emotional shift on a regular basis – not to mention when we have new moons and full moons and eclipses. It’s rough.
Mars doesn’t like being in Cancer, it doesn’t perform as well here, it softens Mar’s directness, leading to a defensive type of behaviour. Think about Cancer as the crab – their hard outer shell is a defense mechanism, their armour as such. Cancers are known for burying their heads in the sand or side-stepping when it comes to dealing with the harsh realities of life, retreating into their shell. Their circles are close, they don’t usually like major change or anything disrupting their environment because they operate on security and stability. Mars in Cancer combines assertiveness with emotional sensitivity, driving people to act on their feelings and protect their loved ones. Expect to see a lot of people expressing anger and frustration in more indirect ways (withdrawing, moodiness or passive aggressiveness *sorry to you in advance if you’re a fire sign, I know you hate passive behaviour*).
This transit is longer than Mars’ usual stint in a sign, from now until Spring 2025, we are dealing with this energy so buckle in. Get ready for emotionally motivated decision making, feeling more sensitive than usual, and feeling like you’d rather stay in at home than go out! You’ll notice the shift of focus toward domestic matters, home improvement, or family-related issues. Don’t be hard on yourself if you’re feeling like there might be hesitation or a lack of directness when pursuing goals, you need to place more importance on your intuition and taking action based on gut feelings and instinct, rather than logic or strategy. In other words, go with the flow, this is water sign energy.
Cancer also rules over food and what we like to eat. This may be an article for another day, but I have very prominent Cancer placements in my chart, which has resulted in a very complex relationship with food (i.e. emotional eating). If you have strong Cancer placements, you may share a similar love for food that feels almost unexplainable, as if it completes you. There’s a deep sense of nostalgia around certain dishes, with cravings for specific cultural foods or home-cooked recipes. Food may even be central within your family, especially your relationship with your mother or grandmother. You might have family recipes passed down through generations or have learned to cook from a loved one. Essentially, there's a profound bond between food and the emotional fulfillment it brings.
For women, especially, this transit is having a slightly stronger impact, as Cancer rules over feminine energy. Hormonal fluctuations may be more noticeable than usual, and personally, I’ve found my moods shifting so rapidly that it’s hard to process one before the next arrives! I’ve also noticed that my tolerance for other people's nonsense is wearing thin, and I’m becoming more focused on my own goals and values, particularly regarding what I’m trying to build with OTHERWORLDLY. My attention has shifted toward internal changes and improvements rather than external ones—not everything needs to be on display to be valid or transformative.
Have you noticed a re-alignment of your value system? More importantly, have you acted on it? Something Mars in Cancer (and Pluto in its final degree) has been teaching me is that when you set boundaries with others, change happens automatically because you're no longer filling your plate with other people's worries. Overcommitting and feeling responsible for everyone else’s happiness will only leave you burnt out. It’s okay to say no and prioritise yourself sometimes. When you remove outdated relationships from your life and stop saying yes to everything out of guilt, you’ll find you have more time and energy to show up in a healthier state of mind for the people you truly care about. And if you’re afraid of being judged…what can others really do or say that will stop you? Live by your own values—we’re saying goodbye to people-pleasing!
You might find that close female loved ones are experiencing health challenges or dealing with a heavier burden than usual. Since Cancer rules over the breasts and stomach, now is a good time to schedule any routine check-ups or health assessments.
To end today’s article on a positive note, I thought I’d share some very Cancerian, nostalgia-themed homeware ideas. Since Cancer rules the home and love of good food, Zara Home's new editorial collection inspired by the 70s caught my eye—it’s very ‘Mars in Cancer.’ Below are a selection of my favourites:
literal hell.